Over 450 Penampang people have been displaced by a morning downpour

KOTA KINABALU: Around noon today, the water levels in the hardest-hit district, Penampang in central Sabah, had dropped, as had the initial worry of a second wave of floods caused by another heavy downpour this morning.

Approximately 459 people, primarily from Penampang, have been forced from their houses this figure has not changed much since this morning.

Approximately 274 individuals from 92 families are being housed at the Penampang Cultural Centre, down from 279 this morning, while 138 individuals from 34 households are housed at the Dewan Sri Putatan in the Putatan district.

47 individuals have been rescued and are being temporarily housed in the districts of Tuaran and Tamparuli.

River water levels remain constant throughout, according to the Sabah disaster management secretariat.

The initial flood wave that occurred on Sunday afternoon caused severe damage to the Penampang inner district, destroying trees and buildings, sinking automobiles, and killing a 37-year-old lady who was nearby assisting in the delivery of food to stranded victims.

The district office issued a disaster notice due to the flooding, which is thought to be the worst in the area in twenty years. The flooding occurred following three hours of rain, but it quickly reached record levels.

Authorities attribute the accident on river overflows during high tide, when the water level was 1.2 metres.

In addition to carrying out a number of short-term initiatives, such as short-term maintenance on monsoon drains and cleaning and dredging on drains and rivers, the state government has given evacuees RM 1,000 in relief money.